Black Collegian Career Center

"He told me to bring $40 and get in the truck," said Tompkins,  a native of Dunnaville Virginia. So I did." That fateful morning, Wood and Tompkins toured garages, service stations and junkyards for auto parts. "See, just about everything attached to a motor has a core which allows the part  to be rebuilt and resold. Many parts stores make big money and offer savings to customers by selling them rebuilt auto parts," explained Tompkins. That was the humble beginning of what is now Wood and Tompkins Cores. They are one of only two black owned and operated businesses in the lucrative (like $150 BILLION dollars a year lucrative) auto parts recycling and rebuilding industry.

The operation, begun in Virginia, trailed Tompkins to Atlanta when Uncle Sam transferred him to Fort McPherson back in 1990. The Atlanta division has since expanded its southwest Atlanta warehouse to over 10,000 square feet of space. They now obtain parts from a steady stream of independent vendors. "We hardly ever go out soliciting ourselves these days," said Tompkins, who retired as a Major from the military in 1991.

Actually, Tompkins has very little time for that. He has tried hard to make responsible use of his success by giving back to the community. Five years ago, he created Another Way Out, a program which pairs successful adult mentors with young boys. He also personally sponsors an annual community festival to enable local businesses and residents to get to know each other better. And he's finally realizing another dream which motivated the establishment of Wood and Tompkins - the world of motor sports.

Through Another Way Out, Tompkins wants to introduce young people to a variety of career options associated with motor sports - - teach them about the finer points of drag racing; plan outings for AWO youth to actually observe, firsthand, this dynamic, spellbinding sport.

It was at the age of ten that Tompkins, himself, was exposed to the electric excitement of the sport of drag racing. Traveling with friends and an adult mentor, he saw his first drag race in Colonial Beach, Virginia. This one thrilling experience paved the way for the many accomplishments in Tompkins' life - - to include the decision concerning his college major; his later transition into entrepreneurship; and finally his dedication and commitment to community service.

During his teen years, Tompkins continued to visit the race track, overcoming all obstacles to pursue this new-found interest. Later in college, because of his interest and exposure to high-performance cars and to legal sanctioned drag racing, Tompkins majored in industrial education and automotive mechanics at Norfolk State College where he received his degree.

After college, at age 25, Tompkins realized one of his dreams - - racing on the drag strip in Washington, D.C. It was there that he met and began a life-long friendship and business partnership with Richard Wood. As a way to support the monetary needs of drag racing the two "would-be" entrepreneurs began their core recycling business. The rest, as they say, is history...

Tompkins has now invested close to $300,000 rebuilding a Chevy S-10 pickup to compete in the Nara's Pro Stock Truck competition. Thanks to profits from the business, Tompkins is able to go first-ticket with everything from chassis to engine to the paint job. He competed in five events this year.

He has yet to qualify but his mere presence on the track has attracted industry media such as Truckin' Magazine. Just like Wood and Tompkins Cores, he has once again become a pioneer as the only African American at this level of truck drag racing. 

Tompkins has come a long way since that morning when he lost 40 winks. But look at what he found. It proves that sometimes you can actually gain by losing.

( For more information on Wood and Tompkins Cores and Tompkins
Motorsports, visit their website at: www.tompkinsmotorsports.com )

(c) EUR/Electronic Urban Report. For your FREE subscription, email: subscribeEUR@eurweb.com